EVEX2: Study of equatorial vortex and spread-F development

Equatorial Vortex Experiment, the EVEX mission of May 2013, carried out from Roi-Namur, Kwajalein Atoll, explored the initiation physics of equatorial spread-F with a pair of rockets launched simultaneously during local sunset to apogees of 182 and 331 km, respectively. EVEX measurements established the existence of a differential zonal flow between plasma and neutrals at bottom-side F-region heights in support of a post-sunset spread-F initiation mechanism described in Kudeki et al. [2007] characterized by large growth rates for oblique-propagating 10’s-of-km-scale electron density perturbations. We are proposing a follow up experiment from Roi-Namur, “EVEX2”, to employ a pair of “high-flyer” sounding rockets --- both to 375 km apogee --- launched successively, about half-hour apart. As in the initial EVEX experiment, the project will be supported by radar measurements conducted using ALTAIR and IRIS (Illinois Radar Interferometer System) located in Roi-Namur. The first rocket will be launched at sunset (as during EVEX) under conditions of strong E-region turbulence monitored and detected by ALTAIR VHF/UHF and IRIS VHF radars. It will measure wind and ion drift velocity vectors as a function of altitude for determining the zonal differential velocity that is believed to be the essential factor in conditioning the ionosphere to create large scale depletions (i.e., spread-F). The second rocket will be launched later into a developing bottomside F-region depletion to the west of ALTAIR site shortly after the depletions start developing coherent backscatter signatures monitored by ALTAIR. It is expected that the second flight will take place about 30-60 min after the launch of the first rocket. Both rockets will be instrumented identically to measure DC and AC electric fields (double probe experiment) and electron and ion densities and temperatures (Langmuir and impedance probes) starting at 100 km altitude to sample the equatorial E and F region altitudes along identical trajectories directed to the west of Roi-Namur. In addition, neutral winds will be measured using ionization gauge (in situ) technique. Measurements of differential plasma and neutral flows during pre-reversal enhancement (first rocket) and within a developing F-region depletion (second rocket) will provide essential data to test our current understanding and models of spread-F initiation and growth. Furthermore, for the first time we will fly on each rocket neutral density probes capable of measuring neutral density fluctuations that may be associated with gravity waves, considered as a possible seeding process for spread-F initiation. We complete the picture of spread-F electrodynamics with in-situ magnetic field measurements to detect closure currents in addition to AC electric field interferometers to measure the k-spectrum of early (active) stage of F-region turbulence and cascade processes, including the bottomside F-region irregularities.

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